Lap-seam gage.



A. C. EASTMAN.-

LAP SEAM GAGE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6. 19!!!- Patentgd Dec. 23, 1919 avwentoz ALFREDO. EASTMAN, or AuGUsrrA, MAINE.

-LA1 -sEAM GAGE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pate td D 23 1919 Application filed May 6, 1918. Serial No. 232,930.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED C. EASTMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Augusta, in the county of Kennebec and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lap-Seam Gages, of which the following'is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in lap seam gages and has relation more particularly to adevice of this gen eral character A especially designed and adapted for use in the manufactureiof shoes 7 or other similar structures and it. is an object of the invention to providea device of this general character having novel and improved means whereby guiding elements coact with the free marginal portions of the overlapping pieces of material whereby a line of stitching connecting said overlapping portions of the pieces of material is arranged in predetermined proximity tothe free mar gin of the overlapping portion of one of the pieces of material.

The inventlon also has for an object to provide a novel and improved gage whereby the extent of overlapping of the pieces of material is regulated without theexercise of any particular skillupo'nthe part of the operator.

Another object of the invention is toprovide a novel andv improved gage of this general character especially adapted for use in the formation of the lap seam connecting the vamp. and tongue of a shoe or other similar structure and whereby a seam is produced which prevents the rolling of the vamp in the completed shoe when the wearer Furthermore, it is an. object of the invention to provide a novel and improved gage which is movably supported upon the top or work plate of a sewing machine whereby the same may be readily thrown into or out of working position relative to the sewing needle together with coacting means carried bythe gage and the top or work plate of the sewingmachine for holding the gage in working position.

"A'still further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved gage of this general character which is provided with guide, elements coacting with the free edges of the "overlapping portions of the pieces of material together with means carried by the gage adapted to coact with the overlapping margin of theunder piece of material to hold said piece of material immedlately adjacent the gage from rising and rldmg over the gage which would otherwise materially handicap and interfere with the sewlng operation. U V

The invention consists in .the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement ofthe several parts of my improved lap seam gage whereby certain importantadvantages are attained and the do vice rendered; simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth. V

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the, better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figurel is a fragmentary view in top plan of the top or work plate of a sewing machine showing a gage constructed in ac cordance with an embodiment of my. invention applied thereto and in working position, the coacting work being indicatedin fragment; p p

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of my improved gage with a portion in section, the top or work plate of the sewing machine being diagrammatically indicated by a dotted line; and r v Fig. 3 is a view in bottom plan of my imprgved gage with certain ofthe parts omitte As disclosedin the accompanying drawings 1? denotes the toporwork plate of, a sewing machine or stitcher and 1 denotes a needle apertur or opening, and 2 denotes a feed dogor'plate, said opening l and dog or plate 2 being indicated by dotted lines.

. Overlying the working face of the plate P is my improved gage G; The gage comprises an elongated fiat strip or body 3 possessing a certain degree of inherent resiliency and having its rear end or tail portion 4; upwardly disposed to afford a convenient means whereby the gage. may be readily a'djusted into or out of working position. The forward end of the strip or body '3 is'disposed on a predetermined incline as indicated at 5 and the forward or high point of said inclined edge '5 is provided with the forwardly and longitudinally directed extension or' lip 6 which, when the gage is in engagement with 'the top or work plate P' and which serves as a pivot forjthe strip or body 3 so that said strip or body "3 ma readily be swung into or out of working position in accordance with 'the occasions of practice. Asis' particularly illustrated in F i .2 the portion of the shank of the heads member'9arranged Within the bushing 8 has its periphery smooth and 11no b-' structed-so that the desired swinging movemerit of the strip'or body '3 maylbeeifected.

with a minimum of'frictional resistance.

The lip or extension 6 hereinbe fore referred to in thepresent embodimentserves as' a vamp guideland. secured to the under surface of the strip' or body '3 and underlying the extension'or lip 6 and the'adjacfentpon ti'on of'the stripor' body 3 is a supplemental plate10 which rests upon thetop or work plate P and serves to provide the lip 'or extension 6 'with'therequisite thickness so that the, proper coac'tion of said lip or exten sion :6 as' a gage'with the vamp'V or other piece or material islassured. The under surface-of "th estrip or body 3 adjacent the inner orlow portion of the'bevel'ed'end 5 has also secured thereto a secondplate 11 of which nes s equal to the thickness of the supplementaljp'late '10 and which plate-also eontaetswith the top' or work plate P. The plate 11 has been found'desirable in order to prevent any twisting or distorting of the o r body3; V Seoure d to the top face of the strip or body 3 ad-jacent the lip of extension 6 is a forward or working end portion of thejstrip plate 12 provided with the 'forwardly'direcited extension or finger lt terminatingin advance of th extension or hp '6 and which is adapted to overliethe marginal portion of the vamp V or other piece of material when the gage-is in working position, and the extension or' finger 14=serves to hold the vamp or other piece of material in applied position, and thereby prevents said vamp or the like from riding over the extension or lip 6 during a working operation. In

practice it has 'been fully established that the extension or finger is .of great importance' in the successful use of my improved.

e? i i xtendingilongitudinally from the workguide for the second or upper piece of ma- 7 terial arranged above the piece of material with which the guide 6 coacts.

The arm 15 or more particularly the guide 16 carried thereby serves to regulate the de-o gree or extent of overlapping between the vamp V and the tongue T or other piece of material and in order that this degree or extent of overlapping may be regulated in accordance with therequirements of practice, I find it of advantage to have the arm 15 supported by' the strip or body 3 for longitudinal adjustment. As herein disclosed the portion of the arm 15 overlying the strip or body 3 is provided with the longitudinally disposed slot 17 throughwhich are directed the clamping screws 18 inthreaded engagement with the strip or body 3 By this arrangement it will be at once'self-evident .that'the arm 15 may be adjusted longitudinally'as the occasions may require'and willbe effectively maintained in its difi'erent positions "by the clamping screws or' members 18. It will also be selfevident that the relative positions of the extension or lip 6 and the flange 16 will determine the degree or extent of overlapping of'the pieces of material, such as the vamp V and the tongue T, whichare adapted to .be united. I alsofind itof advantage to interpose between the top or work plate P and the strip or-ibody 3 at the pivotalmounting of said strip or body the spacing washer or plate '19. Theheaded member "9 is disposed through the plate or washer 19 as" particularly illustrated in Fig. 2, whereby said plateor washer '19 is maintained in its desired position. o

The rear portion ofthe strip or body 3 adjacent the tail 4 is provided with an opening "20 through which is adapted toextend the upstanding pin 21 carried by the top'or work plate P and'which-pin is so positioned as to hold the gage in its workin position. It isto be understood that the in erent resiliency of the strip or body 3 readily permits the same "to be engaged with or disengaged fromthepin 21. 1

My improved lap seam gage as herein disclosed is particularly adapted for use in j connection with vampsandtongues of shoes and in practice thelip or extension 6 contacts with the edge of the vamp and the 7 flange 16 with the edge o f the overlapping portion of the ton'gue' -T. The position of the working end of the extension or lip 6 relative to the needleaperture or opening 1, when the gage is in working'position, determinesthe distance from the edge of the vamp to the stitching. As before explained the flange or guide 16 controls the degree or extent to which the vamp V and the tongue T will overlap. After the first row of stitching has been run across the tongue or the edge of the vamp, the gage is swung out of working position.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a lap seam gage spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim: 7 A lap seam gage comprising a body adapted to be supported by the working plate of a sewing machine and movable relative to the needle opening, the working end of the body being inclined transversely, the high point of said inclined end serving as a guide adapted to contact with an edge of a piece of material to position said material relative to the needle opening, a second guide member secured to the body adjacent the low point of the inclined working end and terminating in advance of said working end, said second guide member contactin with the lapping edge of a second piece of material, and a forwardly directed finger carried by the high portion of the working end of the body and adapted to overlie the piece of material with which the first named guide coacts.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. ALFRED C. EASTMAN. 

